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This year's inductees were Jek Kelly and Fred and Eve Simon.
Circle of Kent
To thank and honor very special people who have given a good portion of
their lives in service to Nebraska Shakespeare, we established a
special order, The Circle of Kent. We chose Kent from King Lear who
stayed by his King’s side through all of Lear’s trials, giving far
more of himself than ever was asked.
Harold “Andy” Andersen Wanda Glasshoff nellie sudavidius maCallum
Marian Andersen Shari Hofschire Rachel McCuthen
Carolyn Anderson Marian Ivers Jerry Onik
Lynne Bacon Diane Karohl Cindy Melby Phaneuf
W. Meredith Bacon James H. Keene III Gerry Phaneuf
Kevin Barratt Ruth Keene Cork Ramer
Ron Bernt Jek Kelly Harold Rock
Jan Buckingham Casey Kizziah Fred Simon
Anne Dittrick Alan Klem Eve Simon
Terry Doughman Dave Krecek Dalia Sudavicius
Rande Ferguson Vicki Krecek Bill Van Deest
Jan Fischer Libby Lauritzen Bob Welk
Elvira Garcia Michael Markey
Circle of Kent Honoree Bios
Jek Kelly, the Festival's summer Greenshow juggler, has been with Shakespeare on the Green for 16 years, warming up the audiences and entertaining them before each evening's performance with his juggling and humorous rapport.
Fred and Eve Simon are dedicated patrons and benefactors of Nebraska Shakespeare. Their support has helped the Festival reach the artistic heights it has reached over the past 22 years.
Harold “Andy” Andersen has always been fond of the St. Crispin Day speech from Henry V: “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” Andy led his happy band for 20 years. He and Marian were the keystone in the arch between Creighton and UNO to make the collaboration possible. Former publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, Andy has lent his talents to making the Festival successful, including portraying—for our fundraiser audiences—Hamlet, a dead body, and Little Dorothy of Kansas. Marian Andersen has an indomitable enthusiasm for the Festival and for what it brings the community: professional theatre offered free for everyone to enjoy. From the beginning, Marian has brought us her priceless reputation for class and excellence. She has recruited many of the Festival’s Fundraiser chairs: no one can say No to Marian. Other festivals envy NSF’s long relationship with Marian and Andy, two special people whose gifts and impact are immeasurable. Carolyn Anderson was the original host of the Company Welcoming Party, who later opened her home to host the Friends of Shakespeare After-Dinner Party. Carolyn was the President of the Community Board during an important time in their development, and since that time she has graciously served on the Board of Trustees, helping NSF to develop new relationships for collaboration, such as with her other favorite cause, Very Special Arts. Lynne Bacon is a French and Spanish teacher at Creighton Prep High School who, for the last sixteen years with W. Meredith, has co-hosted the Welcoming Party, kicking off the season for everyone involved in producing Shakespeare on the Green. Lynne also co-hosts the annual Opening Night Patron’s Party, our opportunity to thank people, like Lynne, who make the Festival possible. W. Meredith Bacon greeted NSF audiences for nine years as the Festival Herald, welcoming them and making them feel at home. A childhood actor in New York City, Meredith also stepped onto the Festival stage in Henry V and King Lear. The artists of the NSF company will always love Meredith for hosting, along with Lynne, the memorable Welcoming Parties and the Fourth of July pool parties. Kevin Barratt has been a member of the NSF acting company eighteen of the last twenty years, including a memorable performance as Macduff in the 1999 production of Macbeth. Kevin has taught in our education programs, and, at one time, was the Festival’s premier performer in the Greenshow, juggling, sword fighting, and breathing fire to amazed audiences. Holding a master’s degree from UNO’s graduate program in Theatre, Kevin teaches Speech and Drama at Benson High School. The late Ron Bernt was “Mr. Everything” for the Festival for many years. Ron started the NSF concessions operation, and he created the first Festival lawn quilts. As a student in UNO’s graduate program in Theatre, he worked in the NSF costume shop, served as Site Manager, and assisted the Managing Director. Jan Buckingham has created the thematic decorations for every fundraiser, even after having survived the melted pasta centerpieces from the Festival’s first fundraiser in 1991. Since then she has been a trusted advisor, an active member of the Board of Trustees, and one of the Festival’s best fundraisers and friend-raisers. Her annual banquets on the green are the culinary highlight of the Festival, and Jan never fails to include at least one uninitiated person who invariably becomes the Festival’s latest benefactor. The late Anne Dittrick was a committed member of NSF’s Community Board who was instrumental in developing many of the Festival’s education programs. She managed and participated in the early Scholars’ Forums. She coordinated the judging of our annual sonnet-writing contest, named in her honor, that draws more than 100 entries each year. Anne was the first President of Friends of Shakespeare, helping to foster a membership that allowed our audience to become active participants in and supporters of our Free Festival. Terry Doughman is our dedicated Fight Choreographer. A graphic artist by trade, Terry throws himself completely into every rehearsal. His fights are stunning, sophisticated, and safe. Terry is beloved by the company actors who show their appreciation by presenting him with a bottle of single-malt scotch. Rande Ferguson has been the audio engineer for the Festival from the beginning, amazing our audiences with his ability to make every voice onstage heard by every ear in the Park. A graduate of the UNO Theatre program, Rande is the Sound Engineer for Manheim Steamroller. Rande’s real gift is his passion for his art and for the Festival. Jan Fischer has been an English and drama teacher at Millard North High School for 23 years. She worked as an intern in the NSF office, and she volunteered her time in the park, helping in the concession booth. Within a few years she assumed the responsibility for the Concessions operations, recruiting countless volunteers, including many of her students, several of whom have gone on to other positions with the Festival. Elvira Garcia is a dedicated Community Board member and the Creator / Chairman of our popular Friends of Shakespeare Parties and the annual “Picking Party.” Wanda Glasshoff has brought her friends, “the Groundlings,” to every performance every season from the beginning. (She admits she did miss once when her son got married.) Wanda shares her passion with her fifth-grade students who perform a Shakespeare play each year. Wanda has also taught the elementary-age students of Camp Shakespeare since the program began. Shari Hofschire has been President of the NSF Community Board since 1999 and is a member of the Board of Trustees. Shari is the Director of the UNO Center for Innovation in Arts Education. Over the years, she has demonstrated not only her abilities as a leader, but as a true lover of the arts and a great friend to the Festival. Marian Ivers was the first President of the NSF Community Board. It was her gift as a consensus builder that brought the many volunteers together to serve as one board. Marian has lent her quiet dedication to many of the Festival’s activities. She served as an advisor and volunteer for a dozen fundraisers. Marian was also a great liaison to the Omaha business community, instrumental in developing many area partners. Marian can inspire others to accomplish more than they would have believed possible. Diane Karohl is the President of the Central Nebraska Friends of Shakespeare. She has introduced hundreds of people in the Grand Island area to Shakespeare on the Green. Diane is a teacher’s assistant at Grand Island High School where she directs productions of Shakespeare each spring. An original Gretna Groundling, Diane graciously watches over the Park each day of the Festival, reading a book in the shade, until the night brings another adventure with the Bard. James H. Keene III and his wife Ruth have been Co-Chairmen of the Bard’s Club since 1988. A lover of the arts, Jim has introduced to the Festival hundreds of people who believe, as he does, that free Shakespeare in the Park builds audiences for the arts and strengthens the community. Originally made up primarily of Jim and Ruth’s friends and neighbors, the Bard’s Club has grown to more than 250 individuals each year, though Jim and Ruth still consider each one a dear friend. Ruth Keene, Co-Chairman of the Bard’s Club with her husband James, has given of herself to many of the Festival’s causes. Her passion for the Festival has brought her to our fundraiser meetings, and she has been a champion for the beautification of the Shakespeare Park. Ruth and Jim have also opened their home to the visiting artists of the summer productions. They value the artist, and they work hard to support the arts and the Festival. The late Casey Kizziah was the Festival’s first Equity leading man, and he set the standard of excellence for all actors to follow. He was Hamlet in 1988, Macbeth in 1990, and Jacques in 1991. In 1991, Casey accepted the challenge of directing Othello for the Festival. He was a master level acting teacher and a good friend. His stunning performances and his lust for life left many lasting memories. Festival Co-Founder Alan Klem brought his experience with the Fort Worth Shakespeare Festival to work with Co-Founder Cindy Melby Phaneuf in creating the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival in 1986. As the Festival’s Co-Artistic Director, Alan directed many of the Festival’s early productions before retiring in 1993 to spend more time with his family. Dave Krecek has been master of ceremonies for nearly every NSF event since the Festival’s start. A consultant with P.I. Midwest, Dave has lent his considerable creative talents to many NSF causes including his idea for the 2005 Spring Fundraiser which developed into the popular and successful “Heeere’s Shakespeare!” gala. Vicki Krecek has been a valuable advisor to the Festival from the beginning. Now retired from the Chamber of Commerce, Vicki helped build early alliances in the business community. She and Dave worked hard each summer to gather the “Merry Bandits” who work in the Park, greeting patrons, selling programs, and collecting the donations needed to make the Festival possible. Libby Lauritzen is a treasured benefactor of the Festival, but she is most appreciated for her expressed love of Shakespeare. Libby is a great ambassador for the Festival, spreading awareness and appreciation for classical theatre and outdoor entertainment. Michael Markey got his start with the Festival in 1990 when he returned to Omaha to help look for new sources of funding for the Festival. Since that time, Mike has been “the man behind the curtain,” doing whatever was necessary for a successful Festival. Dalia Sudavicius is extremely happy to have been the illustrator for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival since 1998. She was fortunate to "be at the right place at the right time," as she modestly says it. She was introduced to the Festival by her sister nellie macCallum. Starting off as not quite the Shakespeare expert, it has been an enlightening experience for her learning all the twists and turns and subtle nuances within these classic plays. The opportunity to work with a team of very creative and talented individuals at Nebraska Shakespeare has been very inspiring to her. nellie Sudavicius macCallum began her association with the Festival by volunteering her time to help create brochures and program covers. Since then, nellie has become an invaluable source of creativity and dedication, so much so that in 2005 she became the full-time NSF Marketing Director. Nellie, with help from her artist sister Dalia Sudavicius, one of this year’s honorees, has developed the professional graphic image of the Festival. Her greatest gift is her infectious enthusiasm for the cause, drawing new people to the Festival, including a troupe of young Lithuanian actors who traveled to Omaha to perform during the Festival. Rachel McCutchen began as a volunteer, served as Assistant to the Production Manager, became a paid Stage Manager, grew into the role of Festival Production Manager, and is now a successful Equity Stage Manager working on Broadway. Rachel has been a valued advisor and dedicated supporter of the Festival. Every year during NSF’s New York auditions she organizes Alumni Parties for NSF Company members past and present. Rachel worked as a consultant for the NSF website created by Bozell & Jacobs, and she is currently consulting on the Shakespeare Park project. Jerry Onik operated the Festival light board until 2001 when he retired to focus on his career as a consultant with Heartland Scenic Studios. Jerry returned to the Festival a few years later, beginning with Henry V, this time stepping onstage to take part in the sword fights he had once watched from the light booth. Jerry was one of the constants of the Festival, always sharing a smile, a good word, and, after each performance, a beer from his cooler. Gerry Phaneuf has been a multi-tasking volunteer with the Festival from the beginning. His major contribution has been to create a photographic history of the Festival, as he photographs the productions as well as behind-the-scenes happenings each summer. His photos have appeared in quarto, the newsletter for member organizations of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America (STAA). In addition, Gerry serves on the Community Board, chairing the Marketing Committee, and he assists with grant writing and various other Festival projects. Cindy Melby Phaneuf co-founded the Festival with Alan Klem in 1986, and, as the Producing Artistic Director, she has been the motivating visionary force behind the Festival ever since. Beginning with The Taming of the Shrew in 1987, Cindy has directed eighteen productions for the Festival stage. A professor of Theatre at UNO, Cindy was awarded the Isaacson Professorship beginning in 2005 for her creative activities and research. Cindy’s vision is of a festival that celebrates art and nature and community. She gathers the most talented, passionate, and caring people she can find, and together they create productions that touch and inspire all who see them and all who work on them. Cork Ramer is a familiar face in the NSF acting company, having appeared in thirty-four NSF productions. Highlights of his NSF career include his portrayal of “Wall” in the 1988 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cassius in Julius Caesar in 1997, and Feste in the 2003 production of Twelfth Night. A resident of Lincoln, Cork commutes each summer to join the Festival and play to the warm audiences that have grown to love him and his beautiful deep voice. Cork has also helped shape future Festivals by teaching Camp Shakespeare in the summer, and this season he is serving as the Tour Manager for Nebraska Shakespeare On Tour ’06. Harold Rock is the great legal mind of the Festival, sharing his expertise since the incorporation papers were first drawn up in 1986. Harold’s love of Shakespeare makes him a treasured member of the Festival family. Harold often enters board meetings reciting a well-chosen Shakespeare quote, reminding us of what brings us together: the words and works of William Shakespeare. In 1995 Bill Van Deest created an environmentally-inspired setting for that year’s productions of Twelfth Night and King Lear. The result was an amazing 30-foot tall rock creation that almost killed him, but which lifted the Festival to new artistic heights. Since then Bill has designed sets and lights for many NSF productions. In 2001, he became a partner in the organization when he accepted the role of Associate Artistic Director of Production. Bob Welk is a great ally of the Festival. In past years he designed lights for us, and he was a strong advocate in helping the Festival keep its beautiful home in Elmwood Park. Bob recently retired from his position as Dean of the UNO College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media.
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